The Strength Which Comes Through Faith

Prayer-Soldier

The Strength Which Comes Through Faith

Scripture:

It came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their mother, were apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine, against the law, for which end they were tormented with whips and scourges. But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What would you ask, or learn of us? We are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God, received from our fathers.

And when he was at the last gasp, he said thus: You indeed, O most wicked man, destroy us out of this present life: but the King of the world will raise us up, who die for his laws, in the resurrection of eternal life. After him the third was made a mocking stock, and when he was required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched out his hands and said with confidence: These I have from heaven, but for the laws of God I now despise them: because I hope to receive them again from him. So that the king, and they that were with him, wondered at the courage of the young man, because he esteemed the torments as nothing. And after he was thus dead, they tormented the fourth in the like manner and when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: It is better, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised up again by him: for, as to you, you shall have no resurrection unto life. (2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14)

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father, who has loved us and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope in grace. Exhort your hearts and confirm yourself in every good work and word.

For the rest, brethren, pray for us that the word of God may run and may be glorified, even as among you: And that we may be delivered from importunate and evil men: for all men have not faith. But God is faithful, who will strengthen and keep you from evil. And we have confidence concerning you in the Lord that the things which we command, you both do and will do. And the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God and the patience of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5)

And there came to him some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is any resurrection: and they asked him, saying: Master, Moses wrote unto us: If the brother of any man die, having a wife, and he leave no children, that his brother should take her to wife and raise up seed unto his brother. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife and died without children. And the next took her to wife: and he also died childless. And the third took her. And in like manner, all the seven: and they left no children and died. Last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, whose wife of them shall she be? For all the seven had her to wife. And Jesus said to them: The children of this world marry and are given in marriage: But they that shall be accounted worthy of that world and of the resurrection from the dead shall neither be married nor take wives. Neither can they die any more for they are equal to the angels and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead rise again, Moses also showed at the bush, when he called the Lord: The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live to him. ( Luke 20:27-38 )

Reflection:

Those who have stood as martyrs of their faith do not do so from what they know of the world, but do so from what they know of their God. Blessed are those who know Him through prayer and feel Him in their heart. Those guided by the Holy Spirit know the blessings of His love and the blessings of His Word. No challenge of this world can overcome those who hold their Lord close within their soul.

While history reflects numerous martyrs, how easily is it that others compromise their faith? So many are willing to remain silent in the face of social pressures; they do not succumb to the pain of torture, but the threat of losing popularity. Even in a nation where the government may make no law regarding the establishment of a religion or any law which prohibits the free exercise thereof; the faithful are willing to forfeit their rights to worship and practice of their religious beliefs by remaining ignorant and silent in the face of those who seek to silence the Word of God.

An excuse given by those who persecute the faithful is that to hear the prayer of others or to see the symbols of faith is somehow offensive. How is it that the God of love can be offensive unless it is to those who have no understanding of His Word? Part of the fault is through the failings of the children of His creation. It is through the behavior of those who misrepresent His Word that the unknowing are caused to find offense through Him. Those who stand in self righteous judgment of others, live as the Pharisees, and use faith as an excuse for hate of those they view as somehow beneath them; become the excuse for the unknowing to persecute those of faith.

The Son of God sought to teach us that despite their words, God was not served by the self proclaimed righteous. His call to the faithful is to live not as judges of others, but as examples that others may wish to follow. Evil does not care which side of the mark one is lured to miss the call of His Word, only that God is not served and the commandments to love are not followed, for as the people are set against one another and against their God, the objectives of the evil one are achieved.

Blessed are the faithful who seek to learn and live of His Word. Blessed are those who pray in earnest that He enters their heart, for as He lives within them, they will be guided by the truth of His grace and the blessings of charity and love. They will give of themselves for the blessings of others and, therefore, shall receive of the blessings shared by others.

The hand which evil despises the most is the hand outstretched with unconditional love. It was the hands stretched out upon the cross which revealed the love given up for the salvation of all. It was the hands pierced which have become the blessing for all, for the sacrifice of the One overcame death. In all which evil has done to vanquish faith, it cannot vanquish unconditional love, for as evil works to destroy it, evil must reveal itself and all the darkness which it yields. Eventually, even the blind are brought to see the truth of the darkness of evil and the blessings which come through the commandments to love.

To love is the ultimate purpose of life. Those who do not find a path to love walk a miserable journey and stumble towards the anguish of the darkness, but those who walk hand-in-hand with their brothers and sisters with the blessings of love within their hearts walk the path of endless light. They are uplifted by one another and all are uplifted by Him. What is done in this world to live as we are called to in the next will prepare us for the time which He has promised us. If we ask earnestly in prayer, it shall be revealed to us that the truest path is the path paved with the blessings of love while the darkest path is the one paved by hate.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier